The Guyana Coalition for Children has expressed its sadness at the decision of former President Donald Ramotar to pardon child killer Ravendra Deo, just before he left office.

Deo was serving a life sentence for the brutal 1994 murder of eight-year-old Vishnu Bhim, the only child of his parents from the Annandale Community, East Coast Demerara.

The parents who now live in the United States are devastated over the decision by the former President to extend a pardon to the man responsible for their child’s murder.

The child was kidnapped, tied up, abused and murdered as his killer still demanded a ransom from the parents.

The Guyana Coalition for Children said “Ravindra Deo already had his death sentence commuted to life imprisonment.  Today, he is free to live how he wishes.  On the other hand, innocent eight-year-old Vishnu is dead; his parents and family will never see his potential realized, and our society has been robbed of his contribution.”

According to the organisation, too many adults have contributed to the abuse of children and have stood by silently while children are abused and violated, most often by someone they know and love.

The group reiterated that all forms of child abuse can be prevented.  It made it clear that the abuse of children must not be tolerated, and abusers of children must receive the full penalties the law attaches to this heinous crime.

The Guyana Coalition for Children is now calling on the new government to place children’s issues at the heart of developing Guyana and to address this injustice without any delay.

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